當代愛爾蘭憲政體制之發展與特性

本文嘗試藉由愛爾蘭獨立史與社會文化背景之闡述，勾勒該國當代憲政體制之獨特樣貌。雖承繼英國憲政主義傳統，愛爾蘭在其憲政發展過程中建立起頗具當地特色之民主共和體制。脫離大英國協、持續與英國就北愛爾蘭和平問題尋求理性解決模式、加上歷年為適應內外環境變遷所進行之多次修憲公投，使愛爾蘭成功擺脫世紀以來貧窮與非自主之民族命運。該國健全之三權分立國家機關、活潑之民主社會、以及持續追求完善之人權保障機制，讓此一昔日保守之天主教國家在邁入二十一世紀時，成功轉型為一自由開放之現代立憲民主國家。

關鍵字

愛爾蘭；憲政體制；共和；民主；人權

並列摘要

Through a description of its independent history and unique socio-cultural background, this article explores the contemporary constitutional system of Ireland. Although it inherited English constitutional traditions, in the process of its own constitutional development, Ireland established a democratic republic incorporating local customs. By detaching itself from the British Commonwealth, searching for a resolution to the Northern Ireland conflict, and accommodating change by holding referenda on constitutional amendments, Ireland successfully transcended a national destiny of destitution and subjection to British rule. Government bodies based on the separation of power, a lively democratic society, and the continuous improvement of mechanisms to protect human rights have transformed this formerly conservative state with Catholic traditions into a modern, liberal constitutional democracy.